Second train coming on Everett-Seattle line

Published 10:00 pm, Thursday, May 12, 2005

In a surprise announcement, Sound Transit said yesterday it will add a second train to its Everett-to-Seattle Sounder line beginning June 6 -- three months earlier than planned.

The agency is making no immediate predictions of ridership, but has said that adding trains to the line is crucial to boosting what has been anemic ridership.

The line now averages slightly more than 300 riders each weekday. In addition, it carries riders to special events such as Seahawks and Mariners games.

Beginning June 6, the first Sounder train will leave Everett at 6:10 a.m., stop in Edmonds at 6:35 a.m. and arrive in Seattle at 7:08 a.m. The second train leaves Everett at 6:40 a.m., hits Edmonds at 7:05 a.m. and arrives in Seattle at 7:38 a.m.

The first afternoon northbound train will leave Seattle at 4:33 p.m., arrive in Edmonds at 5:01 and Everett at 5:31 p.m. The second train times are 5:13 p.m., 5:41 p.m. and 6:11 p.m.

Sounder passengers also can continue using Sounder passes for two southbound Amtrak trains (leaving Everett at 11:36 a.m. and 8:41 p.m.) and for an evening northbound Amtrak that leaves Seattle at 5:30 p.m.

Pierce County Executive John Ladenburg, chairman of Sound Transit's board, said the Sounder service gives commuters options and allows them to "mix and match" train service with Sound Transit bus service on Routes 510, 511, and 513 and with Amtrak trains.

Under its agreement with the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad, Sound Transit can have no more than four round-trip trains a day. Adding trains is contingent on Sound Transit getting environmental permits for track improvements. The railroad is adding a second set of tracks. The last two trains are scheduled to be added by 2007.

Also hampering ridership is the lack of a planned station at Mukilteo, which could attract ferry passengers from Whidbey Island. The Mukilteo station has been held up partly by slowness of the federal government in turning over surplus land.

Sound Transit's financial plan projects 150,000 riders on the Everett-Seattle line for 2005. So far this year, it has carried 33,681 passengers. The Tacoma-Seattle line, which has more trains and more stops than the Everett-Seattle line, has carried 335,207 passengers so far this year.

Sound Transit said the addition of a second train three months early was due partly to reduced environmental impacts that allowed permits to be obtained without delay.